From http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DharmaNews/message/5373 : This mail is to inform Buddhists of two serious cases of Buddhism being misrepresented in the context of Singapore, and what you can do about it. Please be assured that the featured  persons and their confused views in the videos do not represent proper Buddhists or Buddhist teachings. Thank you for standing [...]

A Tit for a Tat (93) Tit: Our boss is becoming more of a stickler for punctuality… Tat: What’s wrong with that? Tit: … while he disregards the extended hours we voluntarily work! Tat: What you mean is that he should give and take? Tit: Exactly! Because we do give much more every day, even [...]

One of the most poignant poems I ever read, followed by some related sentiments: (The above is a scene from ‘Four Weddings and a Funeral): Funeral Blues (Stop All the Clocks) by W.H. Auden Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone, Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone, Silence the pianos and with [...]

Was writing detailed notes for a Dharma@Cinema session for NTU Buddhist Society’s anniversary celebration when I came up with the below (as part of the notes): We too are like wandering spirits in the flesh, with flesh, lingering in Samsara with attachment, which if we do not relinquish in time, will bind us here, or to [...]

In ‘A Scanner Darkly’, undercover cops wear a ‘scramble suit’ which covers them from head to toe. Now, this suit does not just make you look like someone else – because it can endanger someone who really looks that way. Instead, it has the ability to let its wearer look like anyone and everyone – [...]

> I’m a partner in a sole-propriteor business.We were ask to provide quotation for some electrical repair work in Sentosa Sand. We have not done any work yet,anyway we may be a bit small in term of business size to get the work. My question is, from a buddhist point of view, is it good [...]

The 1994 classic ‘Bodhisattva Vow’ by Beastie Boys: As I develop the awakening mind I praise the Buddha as they shine I bow before you as I travel my path to join your ranks, I make my full time task For the sake of all beings I seek The enlightened mind that I know I’ll [...]

A passage from Philip K. Dick’s science fiction (graphic) novel and movie ‘A Scanner Darkly’, which I arranged into the following stanzas: What does a scanner see? Into the head, down into the heart? Does it see into me? Into us? Clearly or darkly? I hope it sees clearly, because I can’t any longer see into [...]

A Tit for a Tat (92) Tit: I don’t like him. Tat: How well do you know him? Tit: Not very well. Tat: Then what you don’t like is just your incomplete and possibly wrong perception of him. Tit: So? Tat: Since you don’t like your perception of him, why cling to it? Tit: Huh? Tat: Why not keep [...]

There is a view that horrible scenes from films which get imprinted onto human minds will be fleshed out accordingly if one goes to hell. Because of this, such films should not be seen. However, here are some alternative views: 1. If one watches horror films to rejoice or relish in suffering of others, despite [...]

In one of the stories within the movie ‘New York, I Love You’, we see a very old couple bickering all the way as they made their way towards the beach – just to see it. At first, the audience is likely to have empathy for them. Well, it is more sad to see the [...]

In ‘Highlander: The Search for Vengeance’, Colin the ‘immortal’s’ attachment to his lost lover drives him on a vengeful streak to stalk and kill her ‘immortal’ murderer… over the course of 2000 years. In the process, he fights in various wars of many eras in different lands to pursue him. Too blinded by hate to [...]

Recently, there is a ‘method’ out there in the market, that claims to use Buddhist principles for recollection of past lives for healing purposes. Below are points of consideration about this method. (Yes, there is money involved in learning the method.) Please send this link to your friends who are involved. In the long run, [...]

The Buddha in the Surangama Sutra: “Bhikshus who do not wear silk, leather boots, furs, or down from this country, or consume milk, cream, or butter can truly transcend this world. When they have paid back their past debts, they will not have to re-enter the triple realm. Why? It is because when one wears [...]

Veganism is… … vigilant awareness of consumption. … a way to avoid harming more beings … to be more and more aware, even if it makes life more troublesome, Because of the great ‘trouble’ animals would otherwise endure, veganism on our part is worth the trouble. – Stonepeace